It's been proven that wine -- and red wine in particular -- can lead to a healthier overall heart. However, drinking wine may actually increase your risk of cancer.

So, let's look at the benefits.

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As any study of wine shows, drinking wine in moderate consumption can lead to a healthier lifestyle. The general rule of thumb is one glass of red wine for women and up to two for men (as men are generally larger in size and differ from women in regards to metabolism and breaking down of alcohol.)

A glass is considered 5 ounces.

“The association between moderate alcohol intake and lower risk of myocardial infarction [heart attack] has been studied in well-designed observational studies for nearly 50 years,” Kenneth Mukamal, M.D., M.P.H., a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who has researched this topic extensively told Consumer Reports.

In a study published by Harvard School of Public Health, moderate alcohol consumption leads to a 25-40% reduction of risk for Cardiovascular Disease.

However, there new studies are showing signs of increase cancer risk.

In a study from British Medical Journal in 2015 found that compared with nondrinkers, moderate drinkers had a 2-6% higher risk of cancer.

Women who drank one-third to one glass of wine per day had a 13% increased risk of cancer -- mostly breast cancer.

"Acetaldehyde, the first and most toxic alcohol metabolite, is considered a cancer-causing agent,” says Yin Cao, Sc.D., an instructor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and lead author of the study. “And breast tissue may be more susceptible to alcohol than other organs.”

Alcohol also increases the amount of estrogen in the body. Higher levels of the hormone are associated with some forms of cancer.

It's important to remember that studies involving alcohol consumption are often observational. They don't dictate diet changes or abstinence, but rather study people's normal and daily alcohol consumption.

The American Heart Association advises that if you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation.